Petition supporting rainwater and stormwater harvesting

ARCSA has launched its “We the People” petition, appealing to the U.S. President to support rainwater harvesting. After 150 names are gathered, the petition will be accessible on the WhiteHouse.gov “We the People” website. Until then, the petition can only be located with this link.

We have until May 13th to collect 100,000 names, which would qualify us for an official response from President Obama.

The petition reads as follows:

WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION

… to stimulate the emerging rainwater-harvesting industry, creating new jobs in design, installation, education, R&D, sales, plumbing, landscaping, roofing, monitoring and maintenance, which could propel the U.S. to international leadership, with compounding fiscal benefits.

The justifications include:

Worldwide demand for clean water exceeds supply.
Rainwater and stormwater harvesting can help fill the gap while reducing stormwater pollution.
One inch of rain is over 600 gallons per 1,000 sq. ft. of roof.
Rain harvesting reduces demand on water infrastructure.
A new national standard, ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI 63 details safe design & installation.
Treated rainwater can easily surpass EPA standards.

Background:

The most important purpose of the petition is simply to bring national attention to rainwater and stormwater harvesting.

Signers of the petition are exercising their First Amendment rights to petition government.

The petition is intended to appeal to anyone interested in stimulating rainwater and stormwater harvesting to help solve water quality and quantity challenges.

There are many possible forms such stimulation could take, like encouraging states to adopt a uniform standard for rainwater harvesting (following the ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI Standard 63), or federal legislation to facilitate installing rainwater harvesting systems, or tax incentives, or a Presidential Proclamation, etc.

This link lists responses for successful petition drives. All are thoughtfully written by authoritative officials, and many include specific actions that satisfy the petition’s request.

I love the idea, but don't think this is the way to achieve the action. This encourages Fed.gov to further over reach their authority; and erode the sanctity of States Rights that this country was founded. As good as the idea is, it needs to be addressed at the individual State's level and not an Executive Order or Congressional Bill.

Just my two cents...

Jennifer Wadsworth

Posts: 2679

Location: Phoenix, AZ (9b)

182

posted 3 years ago

1

Jack - I'm sure there are many ways to address the same issue. I didn't start this petition but am very happy to support it. We need far more recognition of rainwater harvesting at ALL levels of government. I know AZ and NV are currently very active in increasing their water harvesting bills and probably other states (mostly Western) as well. I've supported those initiatives as well.

Definitely issues with fed authority, but states are a bit whacky also,look how Colorado mangles local access by selling their water to Cali and outlawing local collection. Perhaps the initial effort will lead to the bigger dialog needed - water access/rights and human rights.

I would suggest this on a more local scale. There's no federal law against it, and the feds don't have the constitutional authority to legislate it.
A few places have done and about face from banning to encouraging rainwater and even greywater harvesting.
In my town at the public works office I picked up a brochure meant for landscapers that encourages using swales and leaving grass clippings on the lawn. Fell short of rain barrels, but it was just designed for landscapers.

Live free or die trying.

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